Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth [Paperback]

In this classic work that continues to inspire many readers, Jim Lovelock puts forward his idea that the Earth functions as a single organism. Written for non-scientists,Gaiais a journey through time and space in search of evidence in support of a radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that life is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the Earth's living matter influences air, ocean, and rock to form a complex, self-regulating system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life.

SinceGaiawas first published, Jim Lovelock's hypothesis has become a hotly debated topic in scientific circles. In a new Preface to this edition, he outlines his view of the present state of the debate.

Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.

Preface
1. Introductory
2. In the beginning
3. The recognition of Gaia
4. Cybernetics
5. The contemporary atmosphere
6. The sea
7. Gaia and Man: the problem of pollution
8. Living within Gaia
9. Epilogue
Definitions and explanations of terms
Further reading

James Lovelock,Independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist

James Lovelock is the originator of the Gaia Hypothesis (now Gaia Theory). His books includeGaia: a new look at life on Earth(OUP, 1979);The Ages of Gaia(WW Norton, 1988);Gaia: the practical science of planetary medicine(Gaia Books, 1991), andThe Revenge of Gaia(Allen Lane/Penguin 2006). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974 and in 1975 received the Tswett Medal for Chromatography. Earlier he received a CIBA Foundation Prize for research into Ageing. In 1980 he received the American Chemical Society's award for Chromatography and in 1986 the Silver Medal and Prize of the Plymouth Marinl£3